'non-delayed' originates from English, formed by the prefix 'non-' (from Latin 'non', meaning 'not') combined with the past participle 'delayed' of the verb 'delay'. 'Delay' itself comes from Old French 'delaier' (to postpone).

'delay' changed from Old French 'delaier' (and Middle English forms such as 'delayen') and eventually became the modern English verb 'delay'; the past participle 'delayed' followed, and English later formed compounds using the prefix 'non-'.

Initially 'delay' meant 'to put off or postpone', and 'non-delayed' simply meant 'not put off' or 'not postponed'; its basic meaning as 'not delayed; occurring without delay' has remained stable.